An image capture device is disclosed. The image capture device may generally include an optical element configured to create a light cone having a focal plane. The image capture device may also include an image sensor having an active area defining an image plane that is angled relative to the optical element. In addition, the image capture device may include a controller communicatively coupled to the image sensor. The controller may be configured to control the image sensor such that the light passing through the optical element is detected by a readout area of the active area. The readout area may be set by the controller based on the position of the focal plane relative to the image sensor.
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1. A system for capturing images of the earth's surface from an elevated location, the system comprising: an aeronautical body designed to be used above the earth's surface; and an aerial image capture device mounted to the aeronautical body such that the aerial image capture device has a field of view encompassing at least a portion of the earth's surface over which the aeronautical body is located, the aerial image capture device comprising: an optical element configured to create a light cone having a focal plane; an image sensor having an active area defining an image plane that is angled relative to the optical element; and a controller communicatively coupled to the image sensor, the controller being configured to control the image sensor such that light is detected by a readout area of the active area, the controller being configured to detect variations in a position of the focal plane relative to the image sensor caused by changes in at least one environmental operating condition associated with the aerial image capture device, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the readout area based on the detected variations in the position of the focal plane relative to the image sensor.
A system for aerial image capture comprises an aircraft and a camera. The camera has a lens that focuses light onto an image sensor. The image sensor's surface is angled relative to the lens. A controller adjusts which part of the image sensor is used to capture the image (readout area). The controller detects changes in air pressure or temperature that shift the focused image on the sensor. The controller then adjusts the readout area to compensate for these shifts, ensuring the best possible image capture. The camera's view includes the ground below the aircraft.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the image sensor is fixed in position relative to the optical element.
The aerial image capture system as described previously has an image sensor that is fixed in place relative to the lens. The controller compensates for focal plane shifts without physically moving the sensor.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the focal plane is positioned within a range of focus of the optical element, the image plane being angled relative to the optical element such that only a portion of the active area is positioned within the range of focus.
The aerial image capture system described earlier has a lens that has a range where objects are in focus. The image sensor is angled so only a portion of it is within this in-focus range. This means only a limited area of the sensor can be used to capture sharp images at any one time, the active readout area being dynamically adjusted.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust the readout area such that the readout area is centered about an intersection of the focal plane and the image plane.
In the aerial image capture system described earlier, the controller adjusts the readout area by centering it on the point where the focused image (focal plane) intersects the surface of the image sensor (image plane). This ensures the sharpest part of the image is captured.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one environmental operating condition comprises at least one of an air pressure or an air temperature associated with the aerial image capture device.
In the aerial image capture system described earlier, the controller detects changes in the air pressure or air temperature around the camera. These environmental changes affect the focus of the lens and therefore where the image falls on the sensor.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein a baseline focal distance is stored within memory of the controller that corresponds to a known position of the focal plane for at least one of a predetermined air pressure or a predetermined air temperature.
In the aerial image capture system, the controller stores a baseline focal distance in its memory. This baseline focal distance represents the ideal lens focus position for a specific air pressure or temperature. This stored baseline helps the system compensate for focus changes.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to estimate the position of the focal plane relative to the image sensor based on the baseline focal distance.
In the aerial image capture system, the controller estimates the current position of the focused image based on the stored baseline focal distance. This estimate is used to adjust the readout area on the image sensor and maintain optimal image clarity.
8. A system for capturing images of the earth's surface from an elevated location, the system comprising: an aerial image capture device having a field of view encompassing at least a portion of the earth's surface, the aerial image capture device comprising: an optical element configured to create a light cone having a focal plane; an image sensor having an active area defining an image plane that is angled relative to the optical element; and a controller communicatively coupled to the image sensor, the controller being configured to control the image sensor such that light is detected by a readout area of the active area, the controller being configured to detect variations in a position of the focal plane relative to the image sensor caused by changes in at least one environmental operating condition associated with the aerial image capture device, the controller being further configured to adjust the readout area based on the detected variations in the position of the focal plane relative to the image sensor, wherein the aerial image capture device is configured to be mounted to an aeronautical body designed to be used above the earth's surface so as to allow the aerial image capture device to capture images of at least a portion of the earth's surface over which the aeronautical body is located.
An aerial image capture system includes a camera with a lens, an angled image sensor, and a controller. The lens focuses light onto the sensor, which is angled relative to the lens. The controller adjusts which part of the sensor is used to capture the image (readout area). The controller detects changes in air pressure or temperature which shift the focused image on the sensor, and adjusts the readout area to compensate. The camera is designed to be mounted on an aircraft to capture images of the ground below.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the image sensor is fixed in position relative to the optical element.
The aerial image capture system from the previous description has an image sensor that is fixed in place relative to the lens. The controller compensates for focal plane shifts without physically moving the sensor.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the focal plane is positioned within a range of focus of the optical element, the image plane being angled relative to the optical element such that only a portion of the active area is positioned within the range of focus.
The aerial image capture system described earlier has a lens that has a range where objects are in focus. The image sensor is angled so only a portion of it is within this in-focus range. This means only a limited area of the sensor can be used to capture sharp images at any one time, the active readout area being dynamically adjusted.
11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust the readout area such that the readout area is centered about an intersection of the focal plane and the image plane.
In the aerial image capture system described earlier, the controller adjusts the readout area by centering it on the point where the focused image (focal plane) intersects the surface of the image sensor (image plane). This ensures the sharpest part of the image is captured.
12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one environmental operating condition comprises at least one of an air pressure or an air temperature associated with the aerial image capture device, the controller being configured to monitor the at least one of the air pressure or the air temperature based on received sensor measurement and determine the positio of the focal plane based at least in part on the received sensor measurements.
In the aerial image capture system, the controller detects changes in air pressure or air temperature using sensors. Based on these sensor measurements, the controller determines the position of the focused image on the sensor and makes appropriate adjustments.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein a baseline focal distance is stored within memory of the controller that corresponds to a known position of the focal plane for at least one of a predetermined air pressure or a predetermined air temperature.
In the aerial image capture system, the controller stores a baseline focal distance in its memory. This baseline focal distance represents the ideal lens focus position for a specific air pressure or temperature. This stored baseline helps the system compensate for focus changes.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to estimate the position of the focal plane relative to the image sensor based on the baseline focal distance.
In the aerial image capture system, the controller estimates the current position of the focused image based on the stored baseline focal distance. This estimate is used to adjust the readout area on the image sensor and maintain optimal image clarity.
15. A method for operating an aerial image capture device, the method comprising: positioning the aerial image capture device at an elevated location above the earth's surface such that the aerial image capture device has a field of view encompassing at least a portion of the earth's surface over which the aerial image capture device is located; identifying variations in a position of a focal plane associated with the aerial image capture device relative to the image sensor caused by changes in at least one environmental operating condition associated with the aerial image capture device; adjusting a readout area for an image sensor of the aerial) image capture device based on the identified variations in the position of the focal plane relative to the image sensor, the image sensor having an active area defining an image plane that is angled relative to an optical element of the aerial image capture device; and controlling the image sensor such that light is sensed by the readout area.
A method for capturing aerial images involves positioning a camera on an aircraft. The camera contains a lens, an image sensor angled relative to the lens, and a controller. The method includes detecting changes in air pressure or temperature that shift the focused image on the sensor. The controller adjusts the readout area on the sensor based on these changes. The camera then captures the image using the adjusted readout area.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein selecting the readout area for the image sensor based on the position of the focal plane relative to the image sensor comprises centering the readout area about an, intersection of the focal plane and the image plane.
The method for capturing aerial images where the controller adjusts the readout area on the sensor includes centering the readout area on the intersection of the focal plane and the image sensor surface.
17. The method of claim 15 , fluffier comprising estimating the position of the focal plane relative to the image sensor based at least in part on the at least one environmental operating condition associated with the aerial image capture device.
The method for capturing aerial images includes estimating the position of the focused image based on air pressure or temperature data. The controller uses this estimate to adjust the readout area on the image sensor.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the focal plane is positioned within a range of focus of the optical element and the image sensor is angled relative to the optical element such that only a portion of the active area is positioned within the range of focus, wherein adjusting readout area for the image sensor comprises adjusting the readout area such that the readout area is fully contained within the portion of the active area that is positioned within the range of focus.
In the method for capturing aerial images, only part of the sensor is within the in-focus range of the lens due to the sensor's angle. The readout area is adjusted to remain within this in-focus portion of the sensor.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one environmental operating condition comprises at least one of an air pressure or an air temperature associated with the aerial image capture device, further comprising monitoring the at least one of the air pressure or the air temperature based on sensor measurements received from at least one sensor.
The method for aerial image capture involves monitoring air pressure or air temperature using sensors. These sensor readings are used to determine adjustments to the image capture process.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising estimation the position of the focal plane based at least in part on a baseline focal distance for the image capture device, the baseline focal distance corresponding to a known position of the focal plane for at least one of a predetermined air pressure or a predetermined air temperature.
In the method for capturing aerial images, the position of the focused image is estimated based on a stored baseline focal distance. This baseline represents the ideal lens focus for specific air pressure or temperature and is used to compensate for focus changes.
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March 27, 2015
July 25, 2017
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